The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-18
DAYTONA.
An Elongated Town-Its Beauty-Its
Prosper'ry-Artesianw Wells.

Prosper,ty-Artesian Wells.
PALMETTO House, DAYToNA, Nav IA.
To fully appreciate Daytona one should
really see it and study its varied features
in detail 1t is kind of elongated town,
stretching itself with rubber-like elas-
ITCHY along the western bank of that
beautiful river. the Halifax. with its
fringe of majestic and odd-looking pal
mettoes, its towering live oaks festooned
with the ever present Spanish moss
pending in graceful lacework from
crown almost To base, the magnolia, with
its wealth of bloom, each and every
blossom being queen amid the royal
household of Florida's far-famed flora,
and its glossy leaves rejecting the bright
mirrors-its palms. cedars and pines,
and many other trees and shrubs of
which l know no name, all lend a beauty
and grace to the picture to be seen no
where else. Playing hide and seek under
the shadow of oak and palm are many
beautiful and costly residences. with as
pretty lawns and flower plots as you
would wish to see.
Beach street runs along the river front
the entire length of the town and. though
not paved, its surface is as firm as if
built on rock. The secret of this is the
fact that the bank of the river for some
distance from the water is a heap of
oyster and other shells, in some places
thicker than others and almost assuming
the dignity of mounds.
This of course affords good road,bed
and makes a splendid drive, which no.
ticed the people We're not slow TO take
advantage of.
ALL RIGFT FOR LENGTH
Speaking of the length of the town, /
had occasion to go from the south to the
north end. and | think / walked three
miles to cover the distance. Looking
from Maniey's mill at the north end you
have a good view of the whole, and
while people here will tell you it is only
mile or so, he who walks it will think
the mile or SO is measured with a coon
skin and tail thrown in. Daytona gets
its name, l learn, from its first settler, a
MIR. Hiram Day. who came here with
colony and located about the year 1870.
As is the case usually with pioneers, Mr..
Day got discouraged and went back, but
the settlement he began has hardly
known season of depression and has
steadily progressed. In 1876 | with a
friend happened to be here; az that time
they claimed population of three hun
dred: the last census gave them nine
hundred and ninety-one, and now moth
ing less than fifteen hundred will satisfy
their progressive appetite.
BEGIN To LET OUT THE rucKs.
Daytonas prosperity seems to have
only just begun. They have six
Churches, good public school. high
grade young ladies' seminary, of which
Miss Cross in the efficient principal, a
bank, several hotels. a sanitarium, and
business bouses of all descriptions. The
st. Johns and Halifax Railroad has the
eastern terminus here, and has connec-
tions with the steamer Clara for Port
Orange, Ponce Park, and New Smyrna,
and all intermediate points, and once a
week trip to Titusville. Cocoa and Rock
ledge, on Indian River. This railroad
has just been opened to paytona, and
while its arrangements are not yet COM
plete, it is, in point of time made by its
trains, smooth, easy riding, well fur
nished and comfortable cars, and above |
all, the courtesy of its managers and EN-
ployes, not to be outdone by any road i'm
the South. The steamer Clara is run by
Captain Froneberger and Henry Van
Dorm. 1t is smart little propeller, and
if you want to make round trip
down the Halifax and into the
Hillsboro TO New Smyrna and return the
same day, giving you time to run ashore
and see friend a minute or so, you can
not fail to enjoy yourself, and speaking
from experience know you will be well
treated aboard. Then if you wish to en-
joy sail on the Halifax there are sew
eral crack yachts that will take you spin
ming over the dancing waters in fine
style. If you wish to extend your trip
out on the rolling pillows of old ocean,
steer your bark out of the inlet, and if
you are good sailor your pleasure will
be complete. The steamer Ino is also on
hand to carry you to the beach, the inlet
or points along the river. There are
two large saw mills, one owned by Mr..
John Manly, that turns out thirty thou
sand feet of lumber per day. beside doing
planning, turning. scroll work, brackets
and molding.
Iregret not being able to get across on
the peninsula just opposite. for was re-
peatedly told of the magnificent beach.
the sea bathing, the shells, the superb
drive and the beautiful residences that
crown the ridge.
PLENTY OF BoREs.
Daytona would not be misnamed if
called the Artesian City. for you find ar
tesian wells everywhere; in this respect
it could claim to rival Palatka. i found
them in the streets, in open lots, in yards,
and one / found on the sidewalk, set in
the floor under an awning in front of
one of the principal stores of the town.
A queer. chimney-Iike curb of brick /
found rising up almost in front of the
door: in the center of this was a pipe
from which was flowing the crystal
fountain. Ii looked odd.
People in Daytona, while looking for
ward to quiet summer, were pleased
with the past season and next winter are
expecting crowds of people to enjoy
their pleasant home on the Halifax.
There were numerous hotel rumors fly
ing about. one of which is that the Pal
mettO,- OF. which Mrs. Hoag is the amia-
bic and popular fostess, will build an
axtansiva addition and fir IL nm in Inv